"Xiaoqiao..."
"What?"
"Do you hate me?"
Gong Xiaoqiao, who had been eating her food with her head down, finally looked up, "Ah? No, not at all!"
Gu Hangshen's expression became somewhat melancholic, "Ever since you broke up with him four years ago, or maybe even earlier, since I went abroad to study, you've been distant towards me. Are you still blaming me for going overseas and leaving you behind?"
"Sweat... How could that be! I'm not a child anymore, I can't be that unreasonable! I've grown up, so of course, I can't cling to you like I used to!" Gong Xiaoqiao waved her hands hastily, explaining.
"Is that so."
"Yeah."
I don't want to rely too much on you because, one day, you will leave me.
Just like I've always disliked the people of the Gong family, just like when you and Gong Hannian left to study abroad when I was nine, just like one day you will marry her and start your own family, so many unstoppable reasons.
What will I do when you're gone?
After a moment of silence, Gu Hangshen suddenly spoke, "Xiaoqiao, are you still not over Qin Yao?"
Gong Xiaoqiao trembled all over, her hand shaking so much she could hardly hold her chopsticks.
Gu Hangshen hurriedly patted her back, anxious, "Relax..."
Qin Yao, this name was like a curse, evoking a fierce reaction from her every time it was mentioned.
Even though he had cured her four years ago, these aftereffects still could not be removed.
He always wanted to ask if she was alienating herself from him day by day because of Xiao Rou's betrayal, but he ultimately never asked.
Gu Hangshen's body stiffened suddenly because Gong Xiaoqiao slowly reached out and embraced him.
He couldn't remember how long it had been since she had taken the initiative to get close to him.
"You..."
"Um... that..." Gong Xiaoqiao buried her head in his chest, "A hug for Brother Shen from Xiaoqiao..."
Gu Hangshen was taken aback, as if in that moment he was taken back to the past, and the wound in his heart was healed by her awkward warmth.
In the middle of the night, it began to snow outside the house.
The north wind made the windows rattle, and the howling wind inside the house sounded like the wailing of a hundred ghosts.
Gong Xiaoqiao, with her hair disheveled and wearing a pure white nightgown, hugged a pillow and shivered all the way to Gu Hangshen's bedroom door.
She pushed the door open, then leaned on the doorframe, her dark, glossy eyes looking resentfully at the man lying in the bed.
Though it was a very light footstep, Gu Hangshen was still awakened.
Actually, he had not been asleep at all, the warm fragrance that lingered in his arms earlier replaying repeatedly in his mind, baffled that just a single hug could have such a profound impact on him.
Gu Hangshen rubbed his somewhat messy hair, propped himself up. The blanket slid off his shoulders, revealing large expanses of honey-colored skin, spreading down to the small abdomen concealed by the end of the blanket.
His eyes, usually cold, now looked hazy and unguarded. Upon seeing the white figure leaning at the door, Gu Hangshen was initially taken aback, then the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, his brows carrying a hint of helplessness.
Gong Xiaoqiao touched the pillow she held, looking up at him cautiously, wanting to say something but seemingly unable to, "Gu Hangshen, I can't sleep. Can I tell you a story?"
Gu Hangshen had already lain back down to sleep, his mood not very good, very bad, especially not wanting to see her, "Stop it."
"Won't you listen before you sleep?"
"..." If she was the one who couldn't sleep, why should he listen to a story?